Syrian rebel official backs interim government

Khalid Saleh, the spokesman for the opposition Syrian National Coalition, speaks to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 18, 2013. The coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to administer rebel-held parts of Syria. (AP Photo/Ben Hubbard)
— AP

Khalid Saleh, the spokesman for the opposition Syrian National Coalition, speaks to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 18, 2013. The coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to administer rebel-held parts of Syria. (AP Photo/Ben Hubbard)
/ AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, columns of smoke rise from heavy bombing by Syrian government forces in Arbeen, Syria, Monday March 18, 2013. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. says more than 70,000 p— AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, columns of smoke rise from heavy bombing by Syrian government forces in Arbeen, Syria, Monday March 18, 2013. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. says more than 70,000 p
/ AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, and released Monday March 18, 2013, Syrian government forces fire rockets toward residential neighborhoods, in Damascus, Syria. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. says — AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, and released Monday March 18, 2013, Syrian government forces fire rockets toward residential neighborhoods, in Damascus, Syria. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. says
/ AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Free Syrian Army fighters fire at Syrian army soldiers during a fierce firefight in Daraa al-Balad, Syria, Monday March 18, 2013. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. say— AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Free Syrian Army fighters fire at Syrian army soldiers during a fierce firefight in Daraa al-Balad, Syria, Monday March 18, 2013. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. say
/ AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, and released Monday March 18, 2013, Syrian government forces fire rockets toward residential neighborhoods, in Damascus, Syria. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. says — AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, and released Monday March 18, 2013, Syrian government forces fire rockets toward residential neighborhoods, in Damascus, Syria. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. says
/ AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Free Syrian Army figthers fire at Syrian army soldiers during a fierce firefight in Daraa al-Balad, Syria, Monday March 18, 2013. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. say— AP

In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Free Syrian Army figthers fire at Syrian army soldiers during a fierce firefight in Daraa al-Balad, Syria, Monday March 18, 2013. Two years after the anti-Assad uprising began, the conflict has become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel group fighting Assad's forces across Syria and millions of people pushed from their homes by the violence. The U.N. say
/ AP

Head of the new Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces Mouaz al-Khatib, second left, speaks with other unidentified members, during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 2013. Syria's main opposition coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to provide services to people living in parts of the country now controlled by rebel forces. Arabic writing at centre reads, General Assembly Meeting(AP Photo)— AP

Head of the new Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces Mouaz al-Khatib, second left, speaks with other unidentified members, during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 2013. Syria's main opposition coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to provide services to people living in parts of the country now controlled by rebel forces. Arabic writing at centre reads, General Assembly Meeting(AP Photo)
/ AP

U.N.-Arab League international Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi speaks during a press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby, left, at the Arab league headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 18, 2013. The fighting in the Syrian civil war has settled into a bloody stalemate and shows no signs of stopping, despite several tentative proposals from both sides to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)— AP

U.N.-Arab League international Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi speaks during a press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby, left, at the Arab league headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 18, 2013. The fighting in the Syrian civil war has settled into a bloody stalemate and shows no signs of stopping, despite several tentative proposals from both sides to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
/ AP

Head of the new Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces Mouaz al-Khatib, rear-left, speaks during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 2013. Syria's main opposition coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to provide services to people living in parts of the country now controlled by rebel forces. Arabic writing at centre reads, General Assembly Meeting.(AP Photo)— AP

Head of the new Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces Mouaz al-Khatib, rear-left, speaks during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 2013. Syria's main opposition coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to provide services to people living in parts of the country now controlled by rebel forces. Arabic writing at centre reads, General Assembly Meeting.(AP Photo)
/ AP

Khalid Saleh, the spokesman for the opposition Syrian National Coalition, speaks to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 18, 2013. The coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to administer rebel-held parts of Syria. (AP Photo/Ben Hubbard)— AP

Khalid Saleh, the spokesman for the opposition Syrian National Coalition, speaks to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 18, 2013. The coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government to administer rebel-held parts of Syria. (AP Photo/Ben Hubbard)
/ AP

ISTANBUL 
The leader of the main Syrian rebel force on Monday threw his weight behind the formation of an interim government to administer rebel-held areas as heavy fighting broke out in the Syrian capital and several suburbs.

At least three mortar shells struck central Damascus, the seat of President Bashar Assad's power. The pro-government's Al-Ikhbariya TV said one of the shells fell in Muhajireen district near Tishreen Palace, one of three palaces that Assad uses in the capital.

Activists also reported that mortar shells struck near state security agencies in al-Barakmeh district and close to the Higher Education Ministry in Mazzeh district.

At least 26 people died in the fighting in Damascus and its suburbs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Also on Monday, Assad's fighter jets struck targets near the town of Arsal, Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. The two countries share a porous border and it was unclear if the shelling occurred inside Lebanon.

The strikes came just days after Damascus warned Beirut to stop militants from crossing the border to fight alongside the rebels.

Lebanon has been on edge since the uprising against Assad began in March 2011. Gunmen on opposing sides of Syrian civil war have frequently clashed in Lebanon, raising concerns of a spillover.

Syria's conflict began with political protests in mid-March, 2011, and has since become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel groups fighting Assad's forces. The U.N. says more than 70,000 people have been killed and millions have been pushed from their homes by the violence.

In Istanbul, Gen. Salim Idris told reporters that fighters affiliated with his Free Syrian Army, the main rebel group, will work under the umbrella of an interim government and protect its members.

"We recognize the coalition as our political umbrella and we hope this government can be formed unanimously and that this government will exercise its powers in all of Syria," said Idris, the chief of staff of the FSA. "We consider it the only legal government in the country."

Idris' comments sought to boost efforts by the opposition's Syrian National Coalition to choose a prime minister who will form an interim government. The coalition has failed to take such a step twice before, but members say there now appears to be more agreement that such a step is necessary.

The coalition's 73 members meeting in Istanbul are expected to elect an interim prime minister from 12 candidates. The vote is expected by Tuesday.

Idris' comments also sought to portray his group as the most powerful and organized rebel formation in Syria. It remains unclear, however, how many of the hundreds of rebel brigades fighting Assad's forces follow Idris' commands or are linked to his group.

Some of the most effective rebel groups are Islamic extremists who have developed their own support networks. One of them, Jabhat al-Nusra, has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and is said to be linked to al-Qaida.